rewind

Yes he is. Front brakes normally just push back in, but many rears, on cars with all round disks, have to be rotated, because they incorporate the handbrake and its self-adjustment mechanism. They won't go back (and the self adjustment won't be reset) unless they are rotated.

SteveW

I've always found a stout pair of pliers works well.

It depends on how often it's a process you have to do. For the average person servicing their own car, given rear disk pads wear very little, I would say every few years?

That's because they may not be the actual hydraulic piston at all. Part of a mechanism linked to that piston. Usually because of a handbrake.

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com formulated the question :

This is the type which combine handbrake as part of the pad/disc brake, they auto screw out in use as they wear, so need to be manually screwed back to change the pads.

No, his big hen's gone.

I've done it on Rovers and Vauxhalls without the proper tool, but found it impossible on a Ford - which is why I bought the tool in the end.

SteveW

Funnily, my experience is mainly on Fords. I didn't say it was easy!